4.5/5
I won this ARC in a raffle from Bookish First. I've read and reviewed it in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
1925: It's the Jazz Age in Chicago and Honoree Dalcour has the ambition and the will to make it as far as her heart desires. She has a chance to become a dancer at the Dreamland Cafe, the hottest black and tan club in the city. If she nails her audition, she could open doors to better careers almost anywhere. But things get completed when Ezekiel Bailey, the love of her life who disappeared three years ago, suddenly shows up and involved in a scheme with her old boss.
2015: Sawyer Hayes is a film student on his last hope. Honoree Dalcour, the 110 year old resident of a senior center has ties to the legendary filmmaker Oscar Micheaux and is Sawyer's last hope. Still processing the death of his sister a year ago, Sawyer is counting on this project and Honoree to fill in some gaps, but what he uncovers is something altogether different and more than his wildest dreams.
This book was amazing. I thought I'd love this and I wasn't wrong. I really love historical fiction, especially when it's not about WWII. Honoree was such a star and I loved her character so much. I wanted only the best things for her and for her and Ezekiel to have another chance. Plus then there was Honoree's and Bessie's friendship which just made me so happy. I love strong female friendships and this delivered.
Sawyer was a bit harder to get to know at first. He's very closed off since he's still grieving the death of his sister from a car accident where he was driving. It's impacted his relationship with his father and his grandmother. But seeing him get to know Honoree and Lula (a nurse at the senior center), and seeing him make new connections and go through his grief was so emotional. I am a softie.
Chicago in the 1920's wasn't a "nice" place. Filled with gang violence (mainly Capone), prohibition laws, and racism. Bryce didn't back down from any of these graphic/violent details. I loved getting to see this, I feel like there's so much of Chicago's history I have yet to learn and this was an incredible and realistic picture of it.
This story is one of family, love and second chances. Highly recommend this one.
I won this ARC in a raffle from Bookish First. I've read and reviewed it in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
1925: It's the Jazz Age in Chicago and Honoree Dalcour has the ambition and the will to make it as far as her heart desires. She has a chance to become a dancer at the Dreamland Cafe, the hottest black and tan club in the city. If she nails her audition, she could open doors to better careers almost anywhere. But things get completed when Ezekiel Bailey, the love of her life who disappeared three years ago, suddenly shows up and involved in a scheme with her old boss.
2015: Sawyer Hayes is a film student on his last hope. Honoree Dalcour, the 110 year old resident of a senior center has ties to the legendary filmmaker Oscar Micheaux and is Sawyer's last hope. Still processing the death of his sister a year ago, Sawyer is counting on this project and Honoree to fill in some gaps, but what he uncovers is something altogether different and more than his wildest dreams.
This book was amazing. I thought I'd love this and I wasn't wrong. I really love historical fiction, especially when it's not about WWII. Honoree was such a star and I loved her character so much. I wanted only the best things for her and for her and Ezekiel to have another chance. Plus then there was Honoree's and Bessie's friendship which just made me so happy. I love strong female friendships and this delivered.
Sawyer was a bit harder to get to know at first. He's very closed off since he's still grieving the death of his sister from a car accident where he was driving. It's impacted his relationship with his father and his grandmother. But seeing him get to know Honoree and Lula (a nurse at the senior center), and seeing him make new connections and go through his grief was so emotional. I am a softie.
Chicago in the 1920's wasn't a "nice" place. Filled with gang violence (mainly Capone), prohibition laws, and racism. Bryce didn't back down from any of these graphic/violent details. I loved getting to see this, I feel like there's so much of Chicago's history I have yet to learn and this was an incredible and realistic picture of it.
This story is one of family, love and second chances. Highly recommend this one.